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Lesotho
- Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Dependant Areas: |
UTC: + 2
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Note:
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
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Aera |
Total: total: 30,355 sq km
Rank:
141
Land: land: 30,355 sq km
Water: water: 0 sq km
Area
- comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
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Boundaries |
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Boundaries total: 909 km
Boundaries detail: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
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Climate |
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
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Terrain |
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
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Elevation extremes |
lowest
point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
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Land use |
Arable land: arable land: 10.87%
Irrigated land: 30 sq km
Permanent crops: 0.13%
Permanent pastures: 66%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 89% (2005)
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Natural resources |
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
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Natural hazards |
periodic droughts
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Environment |
current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
international agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
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signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Maritime claims |
none (landlocked)
territorial sea:
contiguous zone:
exclusive economic zone:
continental shelf:
exclusive fishing zone:
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